Proud Sword

Dragon Country border, atop Subduing Tiger Mountain. Two figures faced each other from afar amidst the clouds and mist. One was clad in a thin, blue robe, a Azure Peak Longsword held casually in his hand. With innate pride, he gazed indifferently ahead. The other wore a black robe, wielding a black sword that seemed to breathe in the mountain's mist, a scarlet scabbard hanging on his back. "Proud Sword, I still won!" Drops of blood trickled down the wrist of the figure in blue. The hand holding the sword loosened, and the Azure Peak Longsword clattered to the ground. "In the duel with your father, I accidentally killed him. The fault lies with me, and I understand your desire for revenge. But your talent in swordsmanship is still lacking compared to mine. Even if I gave you ten or twenty more years, you would never be my match." The black-robed man looked at Proud Sword, speaking with a complicated expression. "T-talent?" The serene face of the man in blue gradually revealed a look of pain. He thought of how he had bitterly practiced swordsmanship for revenge, abandoning his wife and children, obsessed with the way of the sword. But in the end, was it all for naught? Proud Sword's heart was filled with unwillingness. He raised his head again, his face contorted, and with a grab, the Azure Peak Longsword suddenly floated up and was tightly gripped in his hand. "Again!" Azure Lotus Sword Flowers bloomed on the mountaintop, breaking through the clouds and mist, their sharp blades scattering in all directions. "Proud Sword, your sword heart is unstable. If you continue to fight, be careful of straying into the wrong path of the sword!" As he spoke, the black-robed man held his long sword horizontally in front of him, and a huge sword shadow appeared, enveloping him. No matter how rampant the sword energy outside, the inside remained as stable as Mount Tai. "Ah! Die for me!" At this moment, Proud Sword's eyes were bloodshot, completely consumed by madness. He continuously brandished his long sword, the demonic nature in his heart growing stronger. "Bang!" A crisp sound rang out. The sword energy on the mountaintop seemed to have lost its source and completely collapsed. The Azure Peak Longsword also shattered at this moment. Proud Sword's figure fell to his knees with a thud, spitting out a mouthful of blood. "Alas, Proud Sword, although you are obsessed with the sword, you have now completely fallen into demonic ways. Turn back to the shore and abandon the sword!" Proud Sword did not reply this time, only staring blankly at the broken long sword, his mind as if it had been emptied. "Alas..." Ruthless sighed again, sheathing his Black Sword before turning and leaving. The clouds and mist on the mountaintop enveloped again, while Proud Sword remained staring blankly at the long sword, like a puppet who had lost its soul. ... A year later, in the drizzling rain, the figure of Proud Sword reappeared on the old town street paved with bluestone slabs. His figure walked out of the town along the path, treading on the muddy ground all the way towards the mountain. Upon reaching the mountaintop, Proud Sword glanced from afar at the two tombstones leaning against each other, almost covered by weeds, before turning and leaving again. Obsessed with the way of the sword, the sword is life. He had lost too much for the sake of practicing the sword. Even the death of his wife and children had caused him unbearable pain, but pain was pain, and he never regretted it. Born for the sword, hence the name Proud Sword! This was what his father had told him, and he had been working hard for it ever since. But at this moment, Proud Sword was completely lost. His father was accidentally killed in a duel with Ruthless, but now even he, who had abandoned everything for the sake of the sword, was still no match for him. He didn't know where to go next, nor did he know where to pursue the illusory supreme way of the sword. With confusion and decadence, Proud Sword kept walking, walking, without direction, without a goal, just wanting to find the supreme way of the sword in his heart. One day, the disheveled Proud Sword, lost and dejected, leaned wearily in a corner of the street. At this moment, two young men passed by him: "Hey, did you know? Yesterday, the Demolition Office and the Guardian Angel were fighting in the wild again. There was a Berserker swordsman who was simply invincible. His swordsmanship must be that of a super master in reality. I really want to take him as my teacher and learn swordsmanship..." Hearing this, the originally turbid eyes of Proud Sword, who was huddled in the corner, gradually lit up. He suddenly stood up and appeared in front of the talking young man, grabbing his arm.

"Swordplay expert? Where! Tell me where!"

"Ah, you're hurting me." The young man's face was flushed with pain as he slapped Proud Sword's arm repeatedly.

"Tell me, where is the swordplay expert!"

"Battle Online, in the game Battle Online, he's called Mu Jiuge..."

This was Proud Sword's first time using virtual reality equipment. After clumsily putting everything on, he donned the virtual helmet and entered Battle Online.

Seeing the almost real world before him, Proud Sword was shocked.

He had lived in a remote ancient town since he was a child, practicing swordsmanship with a single-minded focus. This kind of high-tech equipment was completely new to him.

Fortunately, everything from character creation onwards had game guidance. Following the steps, he chose the sword-wielding Berserker and officially started the game.

Having reached the Entrance to the Microscopic Realm in his sword practice, Proud Sword had a deeper sense of reality and illusion than other players. He even suspected that everything before him was real.

But he had only one goal, and that was to find Mu Jiuge and learn from his swordplay.

He didn't kill a single monster in the process, just kept asking and searching.

After spending the better part of a day, he finally met Mu Jiuge of the Demolition Office guild.

"I want to challenge you!" These were the first words Proud Sword spoke.

Glancing at the level 0 above Proud Sword's head, Mu Jiuge shook his head with a smile, "Come back when you're a higher level!"

"You don't dare? The path of the sword heart is one of unwavering advance, you're not worthy of practicing the sword!" Hearing Mu Jiuge's refusal, Proud Sword shook his head in disappointment and turned to leave.

Mu Jiuge was also a sword fanatic in real life. Hearing Proud Sword's words, a surge of anger welled up in his heart:

"Whether I'm worthy or not is not for you to say, arrogant and conceited. If you want to fight, then I'll accompany you!"

This time, a smile appeared on Proud Sword's face. He turned around and raised his initial longsword.

Unlike other players, the weapon Mu Jiuge bought from the store was also a longsword, instead of choosing a greatsword, broadaxe, or other large weapon that would maximize the damage output of the Berserker class.

The two were 26 levels apart, but as soon as they exchanged blows, Mu Jiuge was completely stunned.

The swordsmanship and footwork that Proud Sword displayed were unlike any sword style he had ever encountered. It was completely formless, as if he was fighting only a sword, a sharp and deadly killing sword.

In just three exchanges, Proud Sword's longsword had struck him more than ten times, and he hadn't even touched Proud Sword once.

If it weren't for his high level, good stats, and defensive gear, Mu Jiuge believed he would have already been defeated.